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Reporter: Steve Bittenbender

Steve Bittenbender covers Midwest and Gulport news for Casino.org. He also specializes in sports betting and horse racing. Steve is a veteran reporter and brings more than two decades of experience covering sports, business and politics. He joined Casino.org in 2019.

Steve has also covered major collegiate and professional sports for the Associated Press and the Louisville Courier-Journal and is frequently featured on local network TV newscasts and podcasts for his horse racing business and legislative expertise. A Reuters contributor, he has also previously served as editor for Government Security News.

Steve lives in Louisville, Kentucky -- the epicenter of the US horse racing industry -- with his wife and son. He is also an avid poker player, having learned from his uncle as a wholesome after-school pastime with cookies and milk.

Contact Steve at stevebittenbender@casino.org.

Areas of Expertise

1979 stories by Steve Bittenbender

DraftKings Illinois

DraftKings Launches Retail, Mobile Sports Betting in Illinois, William Hill Opens Chicago-Area Sportsbook

On Wednesday, after much fanfare and anticipation, DraftKings became the fourth sports betting operator to go live in Illinois, as the sports gaming technology company opened a retail sportsbook at the DraftKings at Casino Queen in East St. Louis. DraftKings also became...

Steve Bittenbender August 5, 2020
PointsBet Bally's

PointsBet Sets Online Casino Deal in New Jersey, Lands Indiana Pacers Partnership

Australian-based gaming company PointsBet has been busy making announcements for its American-based operations. On Thursday, it said its New Jersey subsidiary reached a 10-year agreement with Twin River Management Group to serve as an iGaming skin in New Jersey. The deal, however,...

Steve Bittenbender August 5, 2020
Nevada legislature special session

Nevada Legislature Back in Session to Discuss Casino Worker Safety, Unemployment Reforms

A bill filed Monday in the Nevada Legislature would give certain businesses in the state, including casinos, protection from COVID-19 lawsuits. But it also calls on casinos to put in place worker safety provisions labor leaders have sought. Senate Bill 4 would...

Steve Bittenbender August 4, 2020
Casino Cardinals

COVID-19 Now Keeps Cardinals Off the Field Through Thursday as Casino Trip Confirmed

After seeing its weekend series against Milwaukee get postponed because of a COVID-19, the St. Louis Cardinals found out Monday that they’ll be sitting out at least four more games as the virus has spread among the team. As many as seven...

Steve Bittenbender August 3, 2020
NHL hockey

NHL Betting Action Heats Up as Players Return to Ice in Stanley Cup Qualifiers

After a nearly four-month absence, the National Hockey League resumed play this past weekend with games in Toronto and Edmonton featuring plenty of excitement. Five of the first 10 games were won by a goal. That included Sunday’s 2-1 win by the...

Steve Bittenbender August 2, 2020
Arlington Churchill

Illinois Horsemen, Local Officials Raise Concerns Over Churchill Downs Comments on Arlington International

Arlington International Racecourse’s summer meet ends on Sept. 26. But it may also be the final day ever of racing at the historic track outside Chicago. On Thursday, Churchill Downs Inc. -- which owns the Arlington Heights track -- held its second-quarter...

Steve Bittenbender August 2, 2020
Cardinals Casino COVID

Baseball Analyst Says Cardinals Players Visited a Casino Before COVID-19 Outbreak Hit Team

The St. Louis Cardinals became the latest Major League Baseball team to have players test positive for COVID-19, and a broadcast analyst insinuated that a trip to a casino may be to blame. On Twitter Saturday, former major leaguer Jerry Hairston, Jr....

Steve Bittenbender August 1, 2020
Cuomo NY casinos

New York Casinos Remain Closed as Gov. Cuomo Says They’re Not Essential

As New York continues its strong comeback from the COVID-19 crisis, not all businesses have been able to reopen and start on the road to recovery. Among those are the state’s commercially licensed casinos,  which employ thousands. Earlier this month, six of...

Steve Bittenbender July 31, 2020
Haven Danville Casino

Illinois Gaming Board Allows Haven to Pull Danville Casino Application

The Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) on Thursday voted to let Haven Gaming withdraw its application for a casino in Danville, giving the company a chance to resubmit its paperwork at a later date. The board spent just five minutes on the matter,...

Steve Bittenbender July 30, 2020
Hornbuckle MGM

MGM Resorts International Makes Hornbuckle Permanent CEO After Search

Bill Hornbuckle — the man MGM Resorts International picked to lead the company in the interim — will be the one who guides it for the long-term. On Wednesday, the Las Vegas-based gaming company announced that they took the "acting" title off...

Steve Bittenbender July 30, 2020